Considering the purchase of a health insurance policy from AmeriGroup Health Insurance Company? Read this AmeriGroup Health Insurance review and then compare quotes.
Learning some things about your potential insurer can often help make your choice easier. You may want to know a little bit about the company’s history and scope. The types of products they offer as well as who the plans are designed to serve will also be a factor in your decision.
In this tough economic climate, the economic stability and financial rating of the company from which you intend to purchase your insurance can also be helpful in the decision making process.
Lastly, with health care costs constantly on the rise the cost of your health care premiums will be important as you decide whether you wish to purchase a policy with AmeriGroup or another health insurance provider.
Be sure to read the entirety of this AmeriGroup Health Insurance Company Review article, peruse through the customer reviews of AmeriGroup at the bottom of the page (and maybe leave an AmeriGroup review yourself), and then use our free health insurance quote finder on the right side of the page to shop for quotes from many different health insurance companies.
History of AmeriGroup Insurance
AmeriGroup Health Insurance Company got its beginning in 1944 and had a vision of helping the disabled and persons of low income obtain quality health care. The company has been publicly traded on the stock exchange since 2001. They are licensed in eleven states which include Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The company insures 17 million Americans and employs hundreds of health care professionals.
Their vision for providing health care for low income and disabled persons has prompted AmeriGroup Health Insurance to work together with state governments to offer Medicaid and Medicare programs for those who qualify for public health care. The company has one of the most comprehensive prenatal plans available. They are in the process of developing both comprehensive and limited benefit plans for those who are uninsured.
AmeriGroup Health Insurance Plans
AmeriGroup Health Insurance plans are designed to facilitate building good doctor patient relationships. Benefits are distributed on the basis of eligibility, treatment appropriateness and medical need. The company has supplemental plans that will supply care that public programs won’t cover like health education, dental and nutrition. AmeriGroup’s programs provide preventative care as well as incentives designed to help participants make better lifestyle choices that will result in better health.
The company’s plans offer a large group of doctors from which participants can chose their primary care physician. The primary care physician is then responsible to write any needed referrals for specialists. Preauthorization is required prior to the performance of medical procedures. The programs also include a dental or prescription plan.
AmeriGroup Medicaid Programs
The Medicaid programs AmeriGroup covers include, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Long Term Care (LTC) and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Supplemental Security Income is designed to assist the elderly and disabled.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is geared toward providing coverage for children under eighteen and women who have children or are pregnant. Those wishing to participate in TANF need to meet their state’s income requirements.
AmeriGroup Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care is for those whose health concerns require medical care over an extended period of time and also for their caregivers. This can take different forms in different states. For instance, in Florida this program grants waivers to elderly residents so that they can remain in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. In New York, it is used to enable chronically ill or disabled persons to obtain services whether they reside at a nursing home, assisted living facility or at home.
AmeriGroup Children’s Health Insurance Programs
State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) is a program that was developed to provide health coverage for the children of families who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid but can’t afford a family plan from a private health insurance company. The benefits and income guidelines for this type of program vary from state to state. Sometimes small premiums may be required.
AmeriGroup’s Medicare Products
AmeriGroup offers three products for those who qualify for Medicare. These are called the Specialty + Rx Plan, the Classic + Rx Plan and the Balance + Rx Plan. Another term for the Specialty + Rx Plan is the Special Needs Plan (SNP). This plan is geared toward assisting those with medical conditions that require extra care. For instance, those who have diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, mental illnesses or other chronic illnesses might find this plan meets their needs fairly well.
In this plan, AmeriGroup provides full Medicare benefits plus Part D prescription coverage. The same member ID card is use for both the health and prescription portions of this plan. This dual eligibility plan is available in areas of Florida, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, New Mexico and Texas.
The Classic + Rx Plans are for those who get Medicare Part A and have enrolled in Part B. They must live in the service area and can’t be in the end stages of renal disease. This plan provides the normal Medicare coverage with Part D prescription benefits. There are no extra premiums or deductibles; however, nominal co-pays may apply in many cases. This plan is available in portions of Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, and New York.
AmeriGroup’s Balance + Rx Plan is similar to their Classic + Rx plan in that it is available to those who qualify for Medicare Part A, are enrolled in Part B, live in the service area and do not have late stage renal disease. The major difference is that with the Balance + Rx plan the participants first $500 in medical expenses is covered then deductibles of between $1,100 and $1,900 per year apply. Once the deductibles are met, any remaining medical expenses are again covered in full. This plans availability includes parts of Texas, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida.
AmeriGroup has an additional product called Amerivantage. Amerivantage is designed to provide coverage for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Amerivantage offers not only the Classic + Rx Plan, Specialty + RX Plan, and the Balance + Rx Plan but also a Choice + RX Plan. Choice + Rx Plans make it possible for participants to choose out of network medical care for services that are covered.
AmeriGroup Prenatal Care
One of the areas in which AmeriGroup excels is in the area of prenatal care. They provide many services to low income mothers that are not normally covered by traditional health plans. These include assessment screening, nurses for high risk pregnancies, and phone and e-mail reminders for appointments. Additional benefits they offer these mother’s are travel assistance and a 24 hour nurse line.
AmeriGroup Health Insurance may not be as highly rated by independent auditors compared to some private organizations since AmeriGroup’s primary focus is on providing care for needy patients rather than gaining profit. The company has received good ratings in the past for chronic disease care. Some of the conditions that might be classified as chronic disease would be mental illnesses, diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease and asthma.
Compare AmeriGroup Health Insurance Quotes Online
As with any purchase, price is important. The only way to ensure that you get the best price for the health insurance that fits your needs is to perform a price comparison.
You can get free rate quotes from many different providers by entering your zip code above. Informed consumers typically make the best choices.
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